Thomastown vs Lalor

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lalor, about half of households are couple families. Thomastown is closer to the city centre: 16.4 km, against 29.9 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Lalor

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (32 vs 25)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 83/100)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Thomastown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (16.4 km vs 29.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Lalor

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 83/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Thomastown and Lalor drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Thomastown Lalor
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Thomastown Lalor
Walkability 86 / 79
Thomastown — Walkability: 86/100 Lalor — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 17 / 35
Thomastown — Safety: 17/100 Lalor — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 63 / 100
Thomastown — Low fire risk: 63/100 Lalor — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 53 / 61
Thomastown — Low flood risk: 53/100 Lalor — Low flood risk: 61/100

Demographics

Lalor has higher household incomes ($70,096 vs $63,700); Thomastown skews older (39 vs 37).

Thomastown Lalor
Population 20,234 23,219
+15% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% +2.8%
Median age 39 37
Median household income $63,700/yr $70,096/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $350/wk $351/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Thomastown Lalor
0-4 5.5% / 6.4%
Thomastown — 0-4: 5.5% Lalor — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 10.1% / 11.9%
Thomastown — 5-14: 10.1% Lalor — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 4.9% / 5.2%
Thomastown — 15-19: 4.9% Lalor — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.6% / 6.7%
Thomastown — 20-24: 6.6% Lalor — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 15.9% / 15.1%
Thomastown — 25-34: 15.9% Lalor — 25-34: 15.1%
35-44 13.2% / 14.5%
Thomastown — 35-44: 13.2% Lalor — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 11.0% / 11.9%
Thomastown — 45-54: 11.0% Lalor — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 11.0% / 9.9%
Thomastown — 55-64: 11.0% Lalor — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 11.2% / 9.1%
Thomastown — 65-74: 11.2% Lalor — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 7.9% / 6.6%
Thomastown — 75-84: 7.9% Lalor — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 2.7% / 2.7%
Thomastown — 85+: 2.7% Lalor — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Thomastown 41.8% couple families
Thomastown — Couple Families: 41.8% Thomastown — Lone Person: 31.7% Thomastown — One Parent Families: 19.9% Thomastown — Group Household: 4.1% Thomastown — Other Families: 2.5%
Lalor 46.7% couple families
Lalor — Couple Families: 46.7% Lalor — Lone Person: 27.6% Lalor — One Parent Families: 19.4% Lalor — Group Household: 4.1% Lalor — Other Families: 2.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Thomastown 29.7% renting
Thomastown — Owned Outright: 44.3% Thomastown — Mortgage: 26.0% Thomastown — Renting: 29.7%
Lalor 28.3% renting
Lalor — Owned Outright: 40.3% Lalor — Mortgage: 31.4% Lalor — Renting: 28.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Thomastown Lalor
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 9.4%
Thomastown — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Lalor — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 10.1%
Thomastown — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% Lalor — Bachelor Degree: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 6.7%
Thomastown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Lalor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 3.8%
Thomastown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Lalor — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.1%
Thomastown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Lalor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.1%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Thomastown Lalor
India 6.2% / 5.1%
Thomastown — India: 6.2% Lalor — India: 5.1%
Italy 5.9% / 4.7%
Thomastown — Italy: 5.9% Lalor — Italy: 4.7%
Vietnam 5.2% / 4.6%
Thomastown — Vietnam: 5.2% Lalor — Vietnam: 4.6%
Greece 4.1% / 4.0%
Thomastown — Greece: 4.1% Lalor — Greece: 4.0%
Iraq 1.6% / 2.4%
Thomastown — Iraq: 1.6% Lalor — Iraq: 2.4%
China 2.0% / —
Thomastown — China: 2.0% Lalor — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Thomastown 84.3% houses
Thomastown — Houses: 84.3% Thomastown — Townhouses: 9.5% Thomastown — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Lalor 88.8% houses
Lalor — Houses: 88.8% Lalor — Townhouses: 4.9% Lalor — Flats / Apartments: 6.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Thomastown Lalor
Median house price $760,000 $756,250
Median unit price $530,000
same for both
Median land price $794,000 $721,750
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 309 sales
 28 days
from 315 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Thomastown Lalor
2 bed $480K / $495K
Thomastown — 2 bed: $480K (63 sales) Lalor — 2 bed: $495K (53 sales)

63 vs 53 sales

3 bed $615K / $605K
Thomastown — 3 bed: $615K (25 sales) Lalor — 3 bed: $605K (23 sales)

25 vs 23 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Thomastown Lalor
2 bed $646K / $702K
Thomastown — 2 bed: $646K (24 sales) Lalor — 2 bed: $702K (30 sales)

24 vs 30 sales

3 bed $755K / $744K
Thomastown — 3 bed: $755K (292 sales) Lalor — 3 bed: $744K (312 sales)

292 vs 312 sales

4 bed $856K / $825K
Thomastown — 4 bed: $856K (56 sales) Lalor — 4 bed: $825K (89 sales)

56 vs 89 sales

5 bed $938K / $838K
Thomastown — 5 bed: $938K (12 sales) Lalor — 5 bed: $838K (14 sales)

12 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Thomastown has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 0%).

Thomastown Lalor
Residential 39% 82%
Industrial 30% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 11%
Parks and recreation 3% 6%
Commercial 3% 2%
Other and special use 2% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Thomastown Lalor
New dwellings approved 2,632
across Whittlesea
same for both
Approvals change year on year -28%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Thomastown Lalor
Houses 3.8%
$550/wk on $750K
 4.0%
$560/wk on $735K
Units 4.7%
$460/wk on $504K
 4.8%
$478/wk on $514K

Ranking within VIC

Thomastown Lalor
House price Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Income Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Schools Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC

Liveability

Lalor scores higher overall (50 vs 39).

Thomastown Lalor
Grade C B
Score 39/100 50/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Thomastown carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0); Thomastown carries more crime risk (83 vs 65).

Thomastown Lalor
Bushfire Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
83/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Moderate
47/100
 Low
39/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 26
within 5 km
 29
within 5 km

Schools

Thomastown Lalor
Inside the suburb 8 9
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 6 3
Universities within 10 km 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.8 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.3%

Schools in Thomastown

  • Thomastown East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John XXIII Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Lalor East Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Clare's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Thomastown Meadows Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Thomastown Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Lalor

  • St Luke's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lalor Gardens Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lalor Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Lalor North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Lalor Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Catherine's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Thomastown Lalor
Supermarkets 3 11
Cafes & restaurants 22 10
Parks & reserves 25 32
Childcare 15
same for both
GPs 6 7
Pharmacies 2 3
Banks & Bank@Post 2
same for both
Fuel stations 9 0
Waterways 10 2

Mobility

Lalor sits further from the CBD (29.9 km vs 16.4 km).

Thomastown Lalor
Walkability score 86/100 79/100
Distance to Melbourne 16.4 km 29.9 km
+82% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 34 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 377.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 227.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3074
 0.6%
postcode 3075
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3074
 27
postcode 3075

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Thomastown Lalor
Car (driver) 68.5% / 67.8%
Thomastown — Car (driver): 68.5% Lalor — Car (driver): 67.8%
Worked from Home 16.7% / 18.7%
Thomastown — Worked from Home: 16.7% Lalor — Worked from Home: 18.7%
Train 6.5% / 6.4%
Thomastown — Train: 6.5% Lalor — Train: 6.4%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 5.1%
Thomastown — Car (passenger): 5.7% Lalor — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bus 1.0% / 1.1%
Thomastown — Bus: 1.0% Lalor — Bus: 1.1%
Walked Only 1.2% / 0.6%
Thomastown — Walked Only: 1.2% Lalor — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Thomastown Lalor
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 18.7 km 20.6 km

NBN connectivity

Thomastown Lalor
Connectivity score 89/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
11,579 premises
 51%
9,534 premises

Climate

Thomastown Lalor
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Thomastown Lalor
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Thomastown Lalor
Average residential rate $1,899/yr
same for both
Council Whittlesea
same for both

Federal electorate

Thomastown Lalor
Division Scullin
same for both
Member Andrew Giles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Thomastown Lalor
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Thomastown

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

Lalor

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Thomastown

Thomastown vs Reservoir Thomastown vs Bundoora Thomastown vs Fawkner Thomastown vs Campbellfield

Other comparisons with Lalor

Lalor vs Epping Lalor vs Mill Park Lalor vs Bundoora Lalor vs Campbellfield
Full data on Thomastown Full data on Lalor
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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